The Concept of Daulat and Its Impact on Concubines (Gundik) in the Malacca Sultanate

This study intends to demonstrate how the daulat concept in the past permeates society through including the gundik in the Malacca Sultanate in determining their actions and behaviour behind the palace walls. In addition, this paper aims to describe the historical realities facing the gundik by reflecting on the significant account stated in Sulalatus Salatin. The analysis was conducted as library research, where the analysis derived from Malay magnum opus, Sulalatus Sulatin, is heavily studied. The findings that strong Malay adat, which is daulat of the sultan, is part and parcel, limit the movement of gundik to explore further their social and political roles. Furthermore, the Malays in the past tended to lead their social lives solely to adat and religious perceptions molded by traditional views where women’s circulation was restricted than getting involved in social and political activities. Interestingly, most of the Sultan’s gundik derived from the Bendahara lineage, where the most consistent people to uphold justice and honour the daulat is from Bendahara. Thus, it can be assumed that daulat, along with narrow-minded worldview, give away hints as to why the treatment of gundik was poor and their role was limited only behind the palace wall. Keywords: Daulat, Gundik, Concubines, Political, Malacca Sultanate Abstrak: Artikel ini bertujuan untuk menunjukkan bagaimana konsep daulat berakar umbi di dalam masyarakat Melayu dalam membentuk tingkah laku masyarakat, khususnya melalui peranan dan layanan terhadap gundik dalam Kesultanan Melaka. Kajian ini meneliti bagaimana daulat mempengaruhi tindakan serta tingkah laku individu di sebalik tembok istana. Selain itu, makalah ini turut mengupas realiti sejarah yang dihadapi oleh golongan gundik berdasarkan catatan penting dalam karya agung Melayu, Sulalatus Salatin. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah penyelidikan kepustakaan dengan analisis teks yang mendalam terhadap Sulalatus Salatin. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa kepatuhan yang kuat terhadap adat dan kesucian konsep daulat Sultan telah mengehadkan keupayaan gundik untuk terlibat secara aktif dalam ruang sosial dan politik. Masyarakat Melayu yang berakar umbi dalam pandangan tradisional serta keagamaan telah menetapkan batasan yang ketat terhadap pergerakan wanita, lalu menghadkan peranan mereka kepada ruang domestik dan peribadi. Menariknya, kebanyakan gundik Sultan berasal daripada keturunan Bendahara—iaitu golongan yang kuat dalam menegakkan keadilan dan menghormati daulat Sultan. Hubungan ini memperlihatkan bahawa konsep daulat, yang digabungkan dengan pandangan dunia yang konservatif, telah menyumbang kepada peminggiran golongan gundik, sekali gus menghadkan peranan mereka kepada lingkungan istana dan menafikan penglibatan mereka dalam ranah sosial dan politik yang lebih luas. Kata kunci: Daulat, Gundik, Gundik Diraja, Sosio Politik, Kesultanan Melaka

History · Islamic Finance and Banking Studies · Islamic Studies and History

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  Open Access•William Gervase Clarence‐smith, William Gervase Clarence-Smith•Manusya Journal of Humanities•2007

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